Life of Guangzhou - Artists Present Record Large Painting to Chenghuang Temple

The Chenghuang temple relic (File photo)

In ancient China, a Chenghuang Temple (城隍庙) was a temple dedicated to the worship of the gods protecting the city. Guangzhou's original Chenghuang temple was built in 1370. Historical events lead to its destruction in the 1920s. It was however rebuild anew in 1993, copying a generic ancient style after which it became an important cultural site.

A part of the large lacquer-fresco (xkb.com.cn)

Painters at work (xkb.com.cn)

The municipal government and the Guangzhou Taoism Association have recently renovated the temple with new artworks, including a giant lacquer-fresco which they shall attempt to get listed in the Guinness Book of World Records.

The piece is 29 meters long by 8.2 meters high. Named "Epoch Making – Gods' Part," it contains 132 well-known gods and goddesses. Local artists and over 40 students from the Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts participated in its creation.

So as to guarantee that the painting will resist Guangzhou's humidity, the artists used 150,000 pieces of gold leaf. The artwork should be completed by the end of September. In October it shall be on display at the Jinhan Complex before moving to its finale home, the central shrine of the temple.

(By Hong Yin, David Keyton)

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